On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 01:14:22 GMT, Dave Head wrote:

The problem with engineering and IT is that the laws of physics, and the
principles of good software design and construction, are universal. What works
in India, Russia, and Korea works here, and vice-versa.

Tell that to my wife who spent several years correcting and re-doing
the engineering designs of Russian-educated emigre engineers in the
US who across the board act as if electrical codes and Ohm's Law
are mere suggestions. She's now on the staff of the world's largest
environmental engineering consultant, and there's no union or need
for one. She would never have joined them if there was, and if one
comes in, she's gone.

I'm a government engineer. I work for the Navy. Don't need a union, right?

I had 30 years as an engineer and law enforcement manager with The Uncle -
wannna' trade horror stories? Especially those where "the union"
stood by and did nothing?

Wrong! In the 1980's, the OPM illegally capped the across the board raises of
engineers on the advanced engineering pay scale. Who should step up to the
plate but the Treasury Employee's Union, and sued the socks off the government
for 2 decades. Finally won the case last year. Last week I got a check as
partial payment for compensation for that misdeed - $1090.95.

My folks were represented by the NTEU and in fact a good friend was
the "field VP" of the local. He finally saw the light as to what
"the union" would do or not do and resigned. He's now retired, as
am I.

Navy engineer, huh? Remember the "demonstration project" at the
Naval Ocean Systems Center (San Diego) where all statutory
protections of employees were suspended and all pay raises capped?
Where was the union on that one? A close buddy was denied the step
raise that he would otherwise been entitled to by regulation. He
retired after 33 years as a specialized acoustic engineer with the
Navy. Guess who was the loser (Answer: not him...)

The union couldn't or wouldn't do a damn thing when the chairman of
the FCC decided to RIF several hundred engineers, technicians, and
non-technical enforcement agents because he didn't understand the
need for field enforcement. Two of the folks working for me,
excellent performers, got caught up in that mess, and they didn't
deserve it.

Ham radio, as well as all other radio services, are suffering the
results of that ill-informed decision almost 10 years later.

Enough of this ..this is not the place to argue this point.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

Retired and loving every minute of it....
Work was getting in the way of my hobbies